Mower



July 7, 1942.

'E. T. JOHNSON ETAL MOWER Filed Sept. 25, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEYS.

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Filed Sept. '25, 1940 5/1: JOHNSON ETAL 'MOWER I47 E 148 149K I62 64 IGQIGG 4 l ll I FIG. 4 29 v 2 26 NVENTORQY: MM

- ATTORNEYS.

4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented July 7, 1942 MOWER Ellsworth T. Johnson and Carl J. Frederiksen, Moline, 111., assignors to Deere & Company, Moline, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application September 25, 1940, Serial No. 358,260

(Cl. e--25) l7v Claims.

The present invention relates generally to mowers and more particularly to power driven mowers. mounted on a, self-propelled mobile frame, and has for its principal object the provision of a novel and improved lifting mechanism for a mower of this type. More specifically, it is a further object of this invention to provide an engine driven mower having improved mechanism for raising the cutter bar to transport position, which mechanism is operated by power derived from the engine which propels the mower frame. In the accomplishment of this object we have provided a threaded shaft driven from the engineand connected with the mower cutter bar for raising and, lowering the latter by driving the thre ded shaft selectively. in opposi-te directions, of rotation. Another related object has to do with the provision of, novel and improved reversible control, mechanism for selectively driving the threaded shaft in opposite directions of rotation.

In, mowers of this type it is desirable. to pro-. vide for swinging the entire cutter bar struc-. ture rearwardly when the latter encounters an obstruction in, the field.v during operation, in

order to, prevent damage to the cutter bar structure and its, supporting connections with. the mobile frame. It is also desirable and customary to provide mechanism for holding the. cutter bar at any desired height above the ground over which it is operating. This is particularly .de-

sirable when the mower is used for cutting vegetation along a highway along which is disposed a curbing whereby the mobile supporting frame of the mower travels at a lower elevation than the ground along which the cutter bar is opcrating. Thus, when the mower passes across an intersecting highway or street, the cutter bar does not drop to the pavement of the intersecting highway but is retained in elevated position, so that, it is not necessary to raise the cutter bar once more when the latter passes over the curb on the opposite side of the intersecting highway. Still another object has to do with the provision of latch mechanism between the supporting lever and the cutter bar supporting arm, the latch mechanism being disengageable when the cutter bar structure swings rearwardly to clear an obstruction, but after the structure has been restored to operating position the latch mechanism can be reconnected by merely lowering the control lever to pick up the supporting arm. In this respect the present invention is in the nature of an improvement over the supporting mechanism described and claimed in a co-pending application, Serial No. 306,690, filed November 29, 1939, by Carl J. Frederiksen.

These and other objects. and advantages will be apparent after a consideration of, the following description in which reference is. had to the appended drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of a tractor mounted mower embodying the principles of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevationtaken from the left side of the tractor;

Figure 3 is a sectional, elevation drawn to an enlarged scale and taken along a line 3-3 in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional elevation also drawn, to an enlarged scale and taken along a line 4-4 in Figure 2;-

Figure 51s a detail, drawn to an even larger scale, andtaken in section, along a, line 5.-,5 in Figure 4;

Figure 6 a side elevation of the tractor mounted mower as viewed fromthe right side of the tractor, with the near tractor wheel removed;

Figure? is a view similar to Figure. 6, but with the mower shown in rearward trailing position;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary plan view showing the pivot connection between the, cutter bar structure and the supporting frame, and the camming mechanism for disengaging the sup porting lever from the cutter bar structure when the latter swings rearwardly; and

Figure 9 is a side elevation of the camming mechanism.

Referring now to the drawings, the mower disclosed in this embodiment of our invention is of the type disclosed by W. J. Coultas in an application, Serial No. 257,804, filed February 23, 1939. The mower, indicated generally by reference numeral I0, is, mounted on a tractor II comprising a frame which includes. a pair of longitudinall extending laterally spaced tubular frame members I2. The rear ends of the rame members are fixed to a transversely extending rear axle housing [3, at opposite endsv of which are mounted, a pair of rear traction wheels 14, 15, respectively. The forward ends of the frame members l2 are supported on a front dirigible truck 16 and. on the front end of they frame is carried an engine housing 11 out of which extends rearwardly a propeller shaft 18 for driving the tractor wheels l4, IS.

The mower 10 comprises a cutter bar structure 25, which includes generally a cutter bar 26 of more or less conventional design, supported on a supporting arm 21. The inner end of the cutter bar 26 is carried on a conventional shoe 28, pivotally connected by a pair of aligned pivot bolts 29, 38 to a shoe arch 3|, see Figure 6. The pivot bolts 29, 30 are longitudinally aligned to provide for vertical swinging movement -of the cutter bar 26 in a transversely extending vertical plane. The shoe arch 3| is carried on a sleeve 32, which is journaled on the outer end of the supporting arm 21, providing for a limited amount of tilting movement of the shoe 28 with respect to the arm 21, as is well-known to those skilled in the art. The opposite end of the arm 21 is provided with a rearwardly extending portion 33, which is journaled in a supporting casting 34, thus providing for vertical swinging movement of the supporting arm 21 about a fore and aft extending axis. The supporting casting 34 is pivotally connected by means of a pivot bolt 35 to a plate 36 carried on a transverse frame member 31, which is supported on the rear axle housing I3, and tied to the frame member I2 by a brace 38. Thus, the mower cutter bar structure is freely swingable horizontally about the vertical axis of the pivot bolt 35. The structure is normally held in a transversely extending operating position, however, by means of a latch arm 40 fixed at its rear end to the supporting casting 34 and extending forwardly therefrom. The forward end 4! of the latch arm 48 'is held by means of a suitable spring latch mechanism 42 carried on a support 33 which is fixed to the tractor frame b means of bolts 44. The details of the latch mechanism 42 have nothing to do with the present invention and are therefore not disclosed herein for the sake of simplicity. Thus, for this purpose it is sufficient to say that the latch 42 is yieldable when the cutter bar 26 encounters an obstruction in the field, thereby permitting the cutter bar structure to swing rearwardly about the pivot bolt 35 to clear the obstruction.

Inasmuch as the cutter bar structure is pivoted at one side of the tractor and extends across under the frame of the tractor and laterally therefrom at the opposite side of the tractor in front of the rear wheel of the latter, it is obvious that as the cutter bar swings rearwardly upon encountering an obstruction, it swings into contact with the tractor wheel. In order to .provide for swinging the cutter bar around to its trailing position behind the tractor, a ramp or shield 46 is provided over the shoe arch 3| to permit the tractor wheel to roll over the cutter bar structure as the latter swings rearwardly. The ramp 46 is curved downwardly at 41 at the rear end thereof. and isalso curved downwardly at 48 at the front end thereof to facilitate the passing of the wheel over the ramp and to lift the rear wheel tire without damage thereto.

The mower is provided with a reciprocating sickle 50, which is driven in a conventional manner by means of a pitman connected to the sickle 58 by means of a ball and socket joint 52. The opposite end of the pitman 5! is journaled on a suitable crank carried on a flywheel 53 which is mounted on a shaft 53 journaled for rotation about a fore and aft extending axis on the supporting casting 34. The outer surface of the flywheel 53 serves as a pulley to receive the belt 55 which is trained over a driving pulley 56 on the propeller shaft l8. During operation the belt 55 is maintained tight in power transmitting relation by means of an idler pulley 51 carrier on an arm 58 which is swingably supported on the tractor frame. When the cutter bar structure swings rearwardly, the pulleys 53, 56 swing closer together and loosen the belt, thereby interrupting the drive to the sickle 58. The latch bar 48 is braced to the shoe arch 3| by means of a tie rod 6|, which is swingably connected to permit the arm 21 to swing vertically in a transverse plane. Coming now to that part of the structure with which my invention is more directly concerned, the cutter bar 23 is provided with an arcuate sheave member 65 which is formed as a sector of a circle about the axis of the pivot bolt 29 and is rigidly secured to the cutter bar 26. A lifting cable 66 and a counterbalance cable 61 are both connected at their outer ends to the arcuate member 65 and cable 68 is trained upwardly and inwardly over the circumference of the latter, from which it extends substantially parallel to the cutter bar supporting arm 21. The counterbalancing cable 61 is connected to a tension spring 68, best shown in Figures 1 and 4, the latter being anchored to a bracket 69 which is attached to the rearwardly turned portion 33 of the cutter bar supporting arm 21. The lifting cable 88 passes around a pulley 18, which is journaled in a clevis 1| that is anchored by means of an eye bolt 12 on the forwardly extendinglatch arm 48. From the pulley 18 the lifting cable 68 passes upwardly over and is fixed to a sheave sector 13 which is mounted on a pair of spokes 14 fixed to a hub 15 which is journaled on a short transversely disposed shaft 15. The shaft 18 is supported in a sleeve 8|, which is rigidly fixed to a vertically extending plate 11, the lower end of which is bolted by means of a bolt 18 to a rigid bracket 19 welded on the left hand frame member l2, see Figure 4. Thus, it is evident that by rotating the sheave sector 13 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 2, a tension force is applied through the lifting cable 65 to thecutter bar 26 to raise the latter about the axis of the pivot bolts 29, 30, and will result inthe cutter bar 28 being raised to a vertical transport position. The sheave 13 is rotated by means of a bifurcated arm which is fixed at its lower end to the short shaft 16 and extends upwardly therefrom. The two sides of the arm 85 support therebetween a nut 86, which has a pair of laterally extending trunnions 81, which are received within vertical slots 88 in the upper ends of the arm 85. The nut 85 threadably engages a threaded shaft 89 which is disposed longitudinally of the frame l2 and is journaled at the front and rear ends thereof in depending brackets 88 on a frame member 9|, the latter being supported at its rear end on the steering wheel supporting column 92 and at its forward end on a U-shaped bracket 93 which is bolted to the inner supporting plate 11 by bolts 94 and extends outwardly therefrom, see Figure 4. The outer end of the bracket 93 supports the frame member 9| on bolts 95. By rotating the threaded shaft 88 in one direction or the other selectively, the nut 86 can be shifted therealong in either direction and thus acting through the trunnions 81 to swing the arm 85 about the axis of the shaft 16.

The arm 85 engages the pulley sheave 13 by means of a lug or arm 95 which is welded to the hub 15 of the sheave and bears against the rear side of the arm 85, see Figures 2 and 4. The lug 96 thus provides a lost motion connection between the sheave and the arm 85 so that when the latter 'azeaato is swung rearwardly or to the right, as viewed in Figure 2, the sheave 13 is rotated in a clockwise direction to wind up the cable 66,. but, when the arm 85 moves forwardly or to the left, as viewed in Figure 2, it is free to move awayfrom the lug 96', but the weight of the cutter bar acts through the cable 66' and tends to rotate the sheave 13 counterclockwise to maintain the lug 96 in contact with the arm 85. The sheave 13 and the arm 85 are connected together by means of a tension spring 91 which tends to rotate the sheave 13 clockwise with respect to the arm 85 and thus keep the cable 66 tight at all times. Hence, when the cutter bar rides over a rise in the ground, the cable 66 is slackened' and this permits the spring 91' to rotate the sheave 13 to prevent the cable from kinking or tangling.

The threaded shaft 89 is rotated in either direction selectively, by means of a reversible clutch mechanism I00, which will now be described. On the forward end of the threaded shaft 89 is fixedly attached a driven clutch member I'0I, comprising inner and outer cylindrical members I02, I03, respectively, mounted on a radially disposed web plate I04 fixed to a hub I05, which is in turn fixed to the shaft 89. Disposed between the inner and outer cylindrical members I 02, I03 is a driving wheel I06 fixedly mounted on a driving shaft I01. The forward end of the drive shaft I01 is journaled in a bracket I08 fixed to a vertical support I09 which is attached to any convenient part of the tractor frame, as by bolts H0. The rear end of the drive shaft I01 is journaled in a bracket II4 supported on the end of an arm II5 which is pivotally supported on 'a bolt 6 which is carried in a bracket II1 fastened by bolts 8 to an upwardly projecting lug I I9 on the right hand tractor frame member I2. Thus, by swinging the arm II5 vertically up or down, the drive wheel I06 can be engaged with either the outer or inner cylindrical members I03, I02, respectively, and the diameter of the drive wheel I06 is slightly less than the distance between the two cylindrical members I02, I03, so the drive wheel I06 can be held intermediate the two cylindrical members so that it touches neither one of them. The drive shaft I01 is driven at substantially constant speed by means of a power transmitting belt I25 which is trained over a pair of pulleys I26, I21 mounted on the engine power shaft I and the drive shaft I01, respectively.

The drive wheel I06 is faced with a suitable friction driving material through which the driven clutch member IOI can be driven in one direction or another, depending upon which one of the cylindrical driving members I02, I 03' the drive wheel I06- is held against by means of the mounting arm II5.

A brake member I2I engages the outer surface of the clutch member I03 and is mounted on a bolt I22, attached to the support 11. A spring I23 encircles the bolt I22 and exerts pressure through the member I2I against the clutch member I03 to prevent the latter from spinning when the clutch wheel I06 is disengaged therefrom.

Control of the arm H is secured by means of a control rod I30 which has a crank I'3I at the forward end thereof engaging an eye bolt I32 which extends through an aperture in the end of the control arm H5 and has a nut I35 on the opposite end thereof. A pair of compression springs I33, I34 are coiled around the eye bolt I32 between the arm I5 and the head of the eye bolt I32 and the nut I35, respectively. The control rod I30 extends generally, horizontally rearwardly to a handle portion I36 at the rear end thereof convenient to the operator of the machine. The forward end of the control rod I30 is journaled in an upwardly extending bracket member I31, which is supported on the bracket plate 93, and; the rear end of the rod I30 is journaled in a bracket I38, which is clamped by clamping bolts I39 to the steering column 92. When the handle I36 of the control rod I30 is turned in one direction or the other, the crank I3I compresses one of the compression springs I33, I34, which urges the arm II5 up or down as the case may be andengages the drive wheel I06 with one of the cylindrical clutch members I02, I03. The control rod I30 is retained in either'position by means of a spring I40 which tends to force the control rod I30 forwardly untilthe handle I36 presses against the bracket I38, and the latter is provided with suitable serrations orgrooves to. hold the handle I36 in any position in which it is set.

The operator can return the handle I36 to the neutral or disengaged position of the drive wheel I06 to arrest the movement of the lifting mechanism at any point within its range, but if he does not so return the handle, an automatic shut-off means is provided to. return the latter to neutral position when the arm has reached either end of the threaded shaft 89. As indicated in Figure 5, an arm I45 is rigidly fixed, as by welding, to the arm 85 and swings therewith about the axis of the shaft 16. Pivoted to the outer end of the arm I45, by means of a bolt I46, is a vertically extending rod I41 which extends upwardly through a suitable aperture in the bracket plate 93 and extends above the latter adjacent the control rod I30. A pair of vertically spaced ears or lugs I48 are clamped adjacent the upper end of the rod I41 and each of these lugs I40 is adapted to engage a cooperative lug I49, a pair of which are clamped to the control rod I30 in fore and aft spaced relation. 'When the control rod I 30 is in neutral position, the lugs I49 extend upwardly and downwardly, respectively, in avertical plane, but when the control rod I30 is rotated in one direction or another to engage the control arm I I5, one or the other of the lugs I49 is rotated into the. path of vertical movement of one of the lugs I48 on the vertical rod I41, and hence as the arm 85 moves toward one end of its-range, carrying with it the arm I45 and rod I41, one of the lugs I48 moves into contact With one of the lugs I49 on the control rod I30 and continued movement forces the control rod I30 to return to neutral position. Thus, it is evident that after the operator has turned the control rod I30 to raise or lower the cutter bar, no further attention need be paid to the control mechanism as it will automatically shut off when the nut 86 reaches one end or the other of the threaded shaft 80.

We will now describe the mechanism for holding the cutter bar-at an elevated position for purposes of mowing along curbings and the like, as mentioned hereinbefore. The cutter bar 26 is held in vertically adjusted position by means of a manually controlled lever I50 which is pivotally mounted on a transverse shaft I5I, see Figure 1. The shaft I5I is journaled in suitable laterally'spaced brackets I52 fixed to the transverse frame member 31, and the outer end of the shaft I5I is bent forwardly to provide a crank arm I53. A sector I54 isfixed rigidly on one of the brackets I52 and is engaged by a'suita ble latch actuated by a hand lever I55 mounted at the upper end of the control lever I50, to hold the lever I50 in adjusted position.

The lever I50 is engaged with the forwardly extending lever arm I53 by means of a latch hook I56 that is pivotally connected by a bolt I51 at the apex of a pair of converging frame members I58 rigidly attached to the lower end of the lever I50. The hooked lower enclo-f the latch hook I56 normally hooks under a projecting lug I59 fixed to the lever arm I53 and thus holds the latter in any position of adjustment, which is determined by the setting of the lever I50. The forward end of the lever arm I53 is notched at I60 to receive the forward hooked end of a longitudinally extending track member I65. The track member I65 extends downwardly from its forward support on the lever arm I53 and then extends substantially horizontally rearwardly for a short distance from which it bends downwardly and rearwardly under the rear axle housing I3 of the tractor, rising at the rearof the rear axle housing to a rear support I6I fixed to the rear end of the right hand tractor frame member I2. A track follower I62 rides on the track I65 and includes a roller I63, which is adapted to roll along the track I65, and an eye bolt I64, which is connected to an upwardly extending flange I66 on'the shoe arch supporting sleeve 32. Normally the track follower I62 hangs on the horizontal forward portion I61 of the track member 65 so that the setting of the hand lever I50 7 determines the height of operation of the cutter bar shoe 28, as illustrated in Figure 6.

When the cutter bar 26 encounters an obstruction. however, the cutter bar swings rearwardly about the pivot bolt and thus disengaging the forward end 4| of the latch arm from the latch mechanism 42. It is then necessary for the rear wheel I4 of the tractor to ride up over the curved rear end 41 of the ramp 46 and over the curved forward end 48, and thus placing the cutter bar in rearwardly trailing position, as illus trated in Figure 7. It is obvious, however, that it is necessary to drop the cutter bar from its raised position in order to permit the wheel I4 to ride over the ramp 46, and this is accomplished by swinging the latch hook I56 out of engagement with the projecting lug I59 to allow the arm I53 and track I65 to dropwith the cutter bar.

The mechanism for disengaging the latch hook I56 includes a transversely disposed rock shaft I10, journaled at its right-hand end in the bracket I52 which supports the shaft I5I and lever I50, and at its left-hand end in a bearing support I1I, see Figure 8, which is mounted on the supporting plate 36. The bearing I1I is slotted at I12 to receive the rock shaft I10, the latter being retained in the slot'by a suitable cotter key I13. The latch hook I56 is connected by a link I14 to an arm I15 fixed to the rock shaft I10. Thus it is evident that by rocking the rock shaft I 10 to swing the arm I15 rearwardly, the latch hook I56 is swung rearwardly about its pivot bolt I51 and disengaging its lower hooked end from the projecting lug I59 on the arm I53.

The rock shaft I10 is rocked by means of a pair of camming elements at the opposite end of the rock shaft, best illustrated in Figures 8 and 9. The opposite end of the rock shaft is provided with an arm' I16, on the end of which is journaled a camming roller I11. Fixed to the mower supporting casting 34 is a camming element I80 having a rearwardly projecting nose I8I, which extends over the camming roller I11 and has on its under side a downwardly and rearwar'dly extending camming surface I19, which bears against the roller I11 as the mower swings about the pivot bolt 35, forcing the arm I16 downwardly and rocking the rock shaft I10 and thereby swinging the opposite arm I15 rearwardly. The. camming member I is supported on a vertically disposed longitudinally extending flange portion I82 on the mower supporting casting 34 and is adjusted in a fore and aft direction by means of a set screw I83 which engages a threaded aperture in a flange I84 on the forward end of the camming member I80, and extends therethrough and bears against the end of the casting flange I82. The set screw I83 is locked in adjusted position by means of a lock nut I85 and the camming member I80 is secured to the flange I82 in'adjusted position by means of a pair of bolts I86 extending through apertures in the flange I 82 and through longitudinal extending slots I 81 in the camming member I80. Thus the camming member I80 can be adjusted fore and aft to adjust the relation between the rocking of the rock shaft and the swinging of the cutter bar structure in order to insure that the latch hook I56 is disengaged from the projecting lug I59 at the proper time. The latch hook I56 is biased toward engaged position by means of a spring I88 connected to the arm I 15 and anchored to the bracket I52, as illustrated in Figures 6 and '7.

The rock haft I10 is held in fixed position after it has been rocked by the camming member I80 to disengage the latch hook I56. This is accomplished by means of a detent member I90 in the form of a bell crank pivoted at I9I intermediate its ends to the mower supporting plate 36, and having a notched end I92 which engages a downwardly extending lug I93 on the rock shaft I10. The detent member I90 is urged toward holding position by means of a coil spring I which is anchored to the frame member 38, as best shown in Figure 8. The detent I90 is held in disabled position when the mower is in normal operating position, by the opposite end I94 of the bell crank, which is engaged by the rear edge of the camming member I80. Thus it is evident that when the cutter bar 26 encounters'an obstruction and disengages the latch arm 40 from the latch 42, upon rearward swinging movement of the cutter bar structure the camming member I80 moves forwardly relative to the camming roller I 11 and forces the latter downwardly to rock the rock shaft I10, and thereby swinging the arm I 15 rearwardly together with the latch hook I56. At the same time the camming member I 80 moves forwardly away from the detent member I90 and thereby allowing the spring I95 to swing the detent into the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 8, where upon the notched end I92 engages the downwardly extending lug I93 and holds the rock shaft in a position in which the latch hook I56 is retracted, as best shown in Figure '7. When the mower is returned to normal operating position, the latch member I80 swings rearwardly once more into engagement with the end I94 of the bell crank detent member I90 and disengaging the latter from the rock shaft lug I93, thereby allowing the rock shaft to be returned to normal position by the spring I88. At this time, however, the mower is lying on the ground and therefore in order to raise it to elevated position once more the latch hook I56 must be reen- 'gaged with the projecting lug I59 on the arm 153, which is accomplished by swinging the hand lever I50 forwardly and thereby lowering the latch hook .155 into latching engagement with the lug I59. The hook I56 is provided with an inclined end portion 1.5.6 to provide for the latching action of the hook over the lug 159.

When it is desired to operate the mower in floating contact with the ground, the lever I50 .is set in a forward position. It will be noted that the forward portion 196 of the sector L54 is not notched, as is the rear portion, and therefore when the mower is operating in contact with the ground the lever 150 is free to swing through a limited range to provide for the floating action of the cutter bar on the ground. A spring L91 is connected between the lever .150 and the axle housing l3 and exerts .a light pressureupon the lever to prevent the latter from .falling forwardly to its extreme forward position, and thus to maintain the lever within convenient reach of the operator.

It is believed that a sufficient explanation of the methodof operating almower of the class described, has been given in connection with the various parts of the mechanism to enable one skilled in the art to understand the :method of operating .the machine, and therefore .a repetition .of the method of operation is :IlOt considered necessary.

We .do not intend our invention to be limited to the exact details .shown and described herein except as limited .by the .claims which follow.

Weclaim:

1. For use in an implement of the .class described, having a mobile frame and a :tool shiftably mounted thereon .for movement between two limits, .ap-paratusfor shifting said tool comprising a threaded shaft rotatably carried on said frame, a nut engaging said threaded shaft:

and connected with .said tool, said not being self locking in adjusted position against .axial .movement along said shaft, a constantly rotatable power shaft, and optionally reversible power transmitting means for connecting .said powernected with said tool, resilient means connecting said sheave and said arm for urging the same into engagement .to maintain said cable tight, a power shaft .journaled on said frame, and an optionally reversible power transmitting means for connecting said power shaft with said threaded shaft to drive the latter in either direction of rotation.

4., For use in an implement of the class described, having a .mobile frame and a tool shiftably mounted thereonfor movement between two limits, apparatus for shifting said tool comprising .a threaded shaft rotatably carried on said frame, a nut engaging said threaded shaft and connected with said tool, said nut being self locking in adjusted position, a constantly rotatable pow r shaft, and optionally reversible power transmitting means for connecting said power shaft with said .threadedshaft to drive the latter in either direction of mtation, Comprising inner and outer concentric rings fixed to said threaded shaft, a drive wheel mounted on a drive shaft and disposed between said rings, shiftable sup- :port means for said drive shaft providing for shifting .said wheel into engagement w th either .of said rings, selectively, and means for driving said drive shaft.

.5. Ina mower comprising a mobile frame, and .a cutter .barstructure pivotally mounted thereon for vertical swingingmovement relative thereto. arearwardly extending power Shaftjournaled on said frame, a threaded shaft mounted for rotation on said frame parallel to said power shaft,

. belt means for driving said threaded shaft from shaft with said threaded shaft to .drive the .lat-

ter in either direction of rotation to move said unit axially thereon.

2. For use in an implement of the class .de-

scribed, having a mobile frame and a tool shiftably mounted thereon for movement between two limits, apparatus forshifting said tool comprising athreaded shaft rotatably .carriedonsaid frame, .a .nutengaging said threaded shaft and self locking in adjusted position against .axial movement .along said shaft, .a sheave journaled adjacent said nut and engaged thereby, .a cable wound .upon said sheave and connected with the tool, .a :power shaft journaled on saidframe, and an optionally :reversible power transmitting means for .connectingsaid power shaft with said threaded shaft to :drive the latter in either direction of rotation.

3.,For .use .in an implement of the class described, having a mobile frame and a tool shiftably mounted thereon for movement between two limits, apparatus forshiftin said tool comprising a threaded shaft rotatably carried on said frame, a nut engaging said threaded shaft and selflocking in adjusted position, a sheave journaled onsaidframe, an arm swingably mounted on said frame and engageable with said sheave to rotate thelatter in one direction, said arm being connected withsaidnutto be moved thereby, a cable wound upon said sheave and consaid power-shaft, a nut threaded onsaid threaded shaft and means connecting said nut with said cutter bar structure whereby travel of said nut along said shaft effects a vertical movement of saidstructure.

6. In a mower comprising a mobile frame, a horizontally swingable support pivoted on said frame, and a cutter bar structure pivotally mounted on said support by means providing for vertical swinging movement relative thereto, a rearwardly extending power shaft journaled on said frame, a threaded shaft mounted for rotation on said frame parallel to said power shaft, belt means for driving said threaded shaft from said power shaft, a nut threaded on said threaded shaft, a sheave journaled on said frame and having a radially extending slotted arm connected therewith engaging said nut and swingable thereby to rotate the sheaves when said nut is moved along said threaded shaft, a cable wound on said sheave, and a pulley anchored adjacent the pivot mounting of said support, said cable being trained over said pulley and connected to said cutter bar structure.

7. In a mower comprising a mobile frame, and a cutter bar structure mounted thereon by means providing vertical and rearward swinging movement from normal operating position, a lever pivoted on said frame, a latch hook swingably supported on said lever, means engageable with said latch hook and connected with said cutter bar structure for raising the latter by said lever, and mechanism responsive to rearward swinging movement of said cutter bar structure :to swing said latch hook out of engagement with said connected means.

8. In a mower comprising a mobile frame, and a cutter bar structure mounted thereon by means providing rearward swinging movement from normal operating position, a track memher, a track follower engaging the latter and connected with said structure, means supportin said track member on said frame, a latch hook swingably connected thereto and adapted to normally engage said track member, and mechanism responsive to rearward swinging movement of said cutter bar structure to swing said latch hook out of engagement with said connected means.

9. In a mower comprising a mobile frame, and a cutter bar structure mounted thereon by means providing vertical and rearward swinging movement from normal operating position, a lever pivoted on said frame, a latch hook swingably supported on said lever, means engageable with said latch hook and connected with said cutter bar structure for raising the latter by said lever, and mechanism responsive to rearward swinging movement of said cutter bar structure to swing said latch hook out of engagement with said connected means, comprising a pair of camming elements connected to said cutter bar structure and to said latch hook, respectively.

10. In a mower comprising a mobile frame, and a cutter bar structure mounted thereon by means providing rearward swinging movement from normal operating position, a track member, a track follower engaging the latter and connected with said structure, means supporting said track member on said frame, a latch hook swingably connected thereto and adapted to normally engage said track member, and mechanism responsive to rearward swinging movement of said cutter bar structure to swing said latch hook out of engagement with said connected means, comprising a pair of camming elements connected to said track member and to said latch hook, respectively.

11. In a mower comprising a mobile frame, and a cutter bar structure mounted thereon by means providing vertical and rearward swinging movement from normal operating position, a lever pivoted on said frame, a latch hook swingably supported on said lever, means engageable with said latch hook and connected with said cutter bar structure for raising the latter by said lever, mechanism responsive to rearward swinging movement of said cutter bar structure to swing said latch hook out of engagement with said connected means, and detent means for retaining said latch hook in disengaged position, said detent being disabled by said cutter bar structure swinging into said normal operating position.

12. In a mower comprising a mobile frame, and a cutter bar structure mounted thereon including a supporting arm pivotally mounted at one side of the tractor for vertical and horizontal swinging movement and a cutter bar extending laterally from the opposite side of the frame and pivoted on the supporting arm, a lifting lever pivoted on said frame at said opposite side, a latching element pivoted on said lever and engaging a cooperative latching element connected with said cutter bar structure, a rock shaft mounted on said frame and connected with said pivoted latching element by means providing for swinging the latter out of latching engagement by rocking said rock shaft, and a pair of camming elements attached to said rock shaft and to said cutter bar structure adjacent the pivotal mounting of-said supporting arm, so constructed and arranged that rearward swinging movement of said supporting arm causes said rock shaft to rock and hence to swing said latching element out of engagement.

13. In a mower comprising a mobile frame and a cutter bar structure mounted thereon including a supporting arm pivotally mounted at one side of the tractor for vertical and horizontal swinging movement and a cutter bar extending laterally from the opposite side of the frame and pivoted on the supporting arm, a track member extending longitudinally of said frame adjacent said opposite side, a track follower on said track and connected to said supporting arm, means for supporting said track member including a lever pivoted on said frame, a latching element pivoted on said lever and adapted to engage said track member, a transverse rock shaft mounted on said frame and connected with said latching element by means providing for swinging the latter out of latching engagement by rocking said rock shaft, and a pair of camming elements attached to said rock shaft and to said cutter bar structure adjacent the pivotal mounting of said supporting arm, so constructed and arranged that rearward swinging movement of said supporting arm causes said rock shaft to rock and hence to swing said latching element out of engagement.

14. In a mower comprising a mobile frame and a cutter bar structure mounted thereon including a supporting arm pivotally mounted at one side of the tractor for vertical and horizontal swinging movement and a cutter bar extending laterally from the opposite side of the frame and pivoted on the supporting arm, a track member extending longitudinally of said frame adjacent said opposite side, a track follower on said track and connected to said supporting arm, means for supporting said track member including a lever pivoted on said frame, a latching element pivoted on said lever and adapted to engage said track member, a transverse rock shaft mounted on said'frame and connected with said latching element by means providing for swinging the latter out of latching engagement by rocking said rock shaft, a pair of camming elements attached to said rock shaft and to said cutter bar structure adjacent the pivotal mounting of said supporting arm, so constructed and arranged that rearward swinging movement of said supporting arm causes said rock shaft to rock and hence to swing said latching element out of engagement, and a detent member pivotally mounted on said frame and having means biasing the same to retain said latching element in disengaged position, said detent member being normally disposed in engagement with said cutter bar structure to hold said detent member in disabled position.

15. In a mower comprising a wheel supported engine driven frame having a longitudinally arranged power shaft, a cutter bar structure mounted on said frame by means providing for vertical swinging movement relative thereto, a threaded shaft journaled on said frame, a nut threaded on the latter, a sheave connectedwith said nut to be rotated thereby, a cable wound on said sheave and attached to said cutter bar structure, a counter shaft journaled on said frame generally parallel to said power shaft, a power belt trained over said power and counter shafts, reversible control means for optionally connecting said counter shaft to said threaded shaft to drive the latter selectively in-opposite directions to move said nut axially thereof, a

' pulley on said cutter bar structure, a sickle mounted on said structure andconnected to said pulley to receive power therefrom, and a second power belt trained over said power shaft and said sickle driving pulley.

16. For use in an implement of the class described, having a mobile frame and a tool shiftably mounted thereon for movement between two limits, apparatus for shifting said tool comprising a threaded shaft rotatably carried on said frame, a nut engaging said threaded shaft and self locking in adjusted position against axial movement along said shaft, a sheave journaled adjacent said nut and having a radially extending slotted arm connected therewith engaging said nut and swingable thereby to rotate the sheave when said nut is moved along said threaded shaft, a cable wound upon said sheave and connected with the tool, a power shaft journaled on said frame, and an optionally reversible power transmitting means for connecting said power shaft with said threaded shaft to drive the latter in either direction of rotation.

17. In a mower comprising a mobile frame, and a cutter bar structure mounted thereon by means providing vertical and rearward swinging movement from normal operating position, a latch hook swingably supported on said frame, means engageable with said latch hook and connected with said cutter bar structure for holding the latter in elevated position, and mechanism responsive to rearward swinging movement of said cutter bar structure to swing said latch hook out of engagement with said connected means.

ELLSWORTH T. JOHNSON. CARL J. FREDERIKSEN. 

